What is Prospect Park known for?

Prospect Park is a scenic landmark in Brooklyn known for its diverse terrain, including a 60-acre lake, an intricate manmade watercourse, and much of Brooklyn's remaining indigenous forest. It features a zoo, a carousel, a band shell, and the nation's first urban-area Audubon Center.

What are the hours for Prospect Park?

The park is open daily from 5 AM to 1 AM.

What activities can I do there?

Visitors can visit the zoo, go ice skating at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, go horseback riding, play softball, or stroll through the Long Meadow. The park also offers dog runs, playgrounds, and wildlife viewing of reptiles, amphibians, and various bird species.

Is there food and drink available in the park?

Yes, the Hibiscus Brew cart, known as "The Bloom," is open daily and serves coffees, teas, smoothies, drinks, pastries, and grab-and-go bites.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

Prospect Park in New York City

Q: Who designed Prospect Park?

The park was designed and constructed between 1865 and 1895 by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who also designed Central Park.

What to know

Prospect Park is a massive 526-acre urban sanctuary in the heart of Brooklyn, meticulously designed and constructed between 1865 and 1895 by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. These same masterminds behind Central Park created a highly functional green space that is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a New York City scenic landmark. The park is celebrated for its ecological diversity, containing the bulk of Brooklyn's remaining indigenous forest and an intricate manmade watercourse of wetlands. Visitors can explore the Peninsula, a scenic area that extends into the park's 60-acre Lake, or venture into the 208 acres specifically set aside as Forever Wild. This unique mixture of woods, ponds, and wetlands provides viewing opportunities for reptiles, amphibians, and dozens of forest and water bird species. Beyond its natural beauty, the park offers extensive recreational facilities. Guests can visit the Prospect Park Zoo, the nation's first urban-area Audubon Center, a carousel, and a band shell. For active visitors, the park features an ice skating rink at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, dog runs, and the Long Meadow for strolling. To ensure a pedestrian-friendly environment, the park was permanently closed to motor vehicles on January 2, 2018. Managed through a partnership between NYC Parks and the nonprofit Prospect Park Alliance, the park serves as a central hub for surrounding neighborhoods. It is bordered by Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Flatbush, and Windsor Terrace, and sits adjacent to the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Visitor tips

Visit the park information center Monday through Friday between 9 am and 5 pm for guidance.
Grab a smoothie, coffee, or pastry from The Bloom, the Hibiscus Brew cart, which is open daily.
Wear comfortable walking shoes to explore the Long Meadow and the Peninsula.
Plan your visit between 5 AM and 1 AM to align with the park's daily operating hours.

Nearby context

Prospect Park serves as the green heart of central Brooklyn, acting as a bridge between the neighborhoods of Park Slope and Crown Heights. It is perfectly situated for a cultural day trip, as it sits immediately adjacent to the Brooklyn Museum, Grand Army Plaza, and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Quick facts